2/19/10 - Budda and Blueberry

The bus left for the Borobudur and Prambanan temples at 5:00 AM. We've been getting to know 5:00 AM far too well on this trip. I preferred when that time was a distant stranger.

Once we arrived at Borobudur, Steff and I joined another group so we could all split the cost of a temple guide haHA! We met a boy named Li in the group from LA. He took pity on us and offered to take pictures for us after seeing we were using a disposable camera, and hearing our sob story about the broken one.

The temple was gigantic (the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere), which made the intricate details all the more impressive once we were closer. Each level was lined with stone relief panels, narrating different Buddhist stories. Our guide tried to explain some of these stories, but apart from several cheesy jokes, he was a bit hard to understand... and it was 6:00 AM. Once you reach the top ("heaven"), you are surrounded by stone pods with Buddha statues inside. With the fog all around, it felt like we were in some other world. We all touched the lucky Buddha foot. I was able to reach the luckiest part: the heal. Thank you long skinny puppet arms. Steff was able to reach the arch. We now have much better luck than those lame-o's who just touched the toes.

Our guide left and we chatted with Li until we were approached by a group of Indonesian students. We were now practice for their final exam in English. They were all super nice, so after our very official conversation, we all took pictures and promised to Facebook them.

Next stop: Prambanan, the largest Hindu complex in Java. Sadly, a lot of the temples had been damaged by the 2006 earthquake, so we couldn't go into a few. They seem to be doing an amazing job at the restoration though. The site was still beautiful and the outside of the temples held up well.

While entering the complex, Steff and I were approached by a boy explaining he was doing on-the-job training, and asked to show us around. Unfortunately, he didn't really speak English so he couldn't actually tell us about the different temples. I also wouldn't really describe him as "spunky" or "peppy." We went back through again ourselves.

The temples really were incredible to see. Again, intricate relief panels lined the outside, with fantastic stair cases leading inside. If we had our camera, I think we would have been there another two hours taking pictures of EVERYTHING. In true Steffany and Megan fashion, we were semi-lost getting out of the complex, caught in the rain, couldn't find the rest of our group, and were late getting to the bus.

After being culturally enlightened, we tried blueberry Fanta. Which is the SAME flavor as blue raspberry. And it turns your tongue bright blue.  So many enriching discoveries in one morning!

The van driver dropped us off at the wrong part of the palace, so we had to walk allllll the way around. Just as we reached a point where we were unsure where to go, who happens to be riding by? Our guardian angel direction-giver, Gus! He chatted with us, gave helpful directions, confirmed that there was a good vegetarian place in town, and told us he was going back to help paint the shadow puppets! Who IS this guy??

With the help of Gus, we made it back to Via Via to sign up for our classes (batik and silversmithing). Since we had so much time to kill before dinner and the shadow puppet show we said:

"Let's pop by the Internet cafe really quick, to book our flight to Singapore."

Three hours later...

"I hate booking transportation in Asia..."

Flights from Yogyakarta to Jakarta to Singapore - booked.

"Um... At least it's time for dinner."

"According to this map Milas (the vegetarian place) is right around the corner. It shouldn't be too hard to find."

One hour, and numerous queries for directions, later...

"THERE IT IS!!!" ::joy::

At least Milas was well worth the quest to get there. Away from the main road, it was a quiet outdoor restaurant in a little garden. All the tables are in little open bungalows, some with chairs, and some with pillows to sit. We order a fried cheese tart type thing. Cheese made us so.. so happy.

Food coma.

"um.. Do you want to see the puppet show another night?"

We decided to just take a becak home. Becaks are one of the main modes of transportation in Yogyakarta. They're bicycles with a seat in the front large enough for two. The side fenders are all painted with different colors and different pictures, adding to the fun art vibe of the city. Other than that slight pathetic feeling of having someone tote me around, I've really enjoyed the becaks. It's a slow relaxing ride that lets you take in the sights. Steff, not so much a fan of the becaks. She is convinced the driver is straining to bike us around (like Kirk in one episode of the Gilmore Girls). Unfortunately, our ride home did not help her impression of this because it was completely uphill...

We get out at our hotel, and paid the driver with three beads of sweat on his forehead.

Steff: "See! We almost KILLED him!"

[Steff's note: seriously, he was going to have a heart attack - he was drenched in sweat!  One becak driver had to get off and push us up a hill - if that doesn't make you feel like a fat lump of lard, I don't know what will.  I quickly learned the term "jalan jalan" which means "walk" and is usually sufficient to let the becaks know we are set on walking.]

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